An Essex head teacher who asked a pupil to send him a picture of his penis has been jailed.

Neal McGowan, 54, went on to send the school boy a picture of his own genitals before saying ‘oh God, more please’ to the youngster.

An anonymous telephone call to the police led officers to launch an investigation into McGowan, who was arrested and subsequently charged.

At Chelmsford Crown Court today (February 8), he admitted two counts of abuse of position of trust by causing or inciting sexual activity with a boy aged 13 to 17 and two counts of making indecent images of a child.

But before he was locked up for ten months, a former colleague stood before Judge Emma Peters and told the court McGowan was “terrific” and “a star.”

The court heard that for around two months from January 29 until March 11, 2016, McGowan exchanged text messages and pictures with a school boy.

On the night of January 29 McGowan and the student – who cannot be named for legal reasons - were both at an afterschool event.

The head teacher had been locked out of the school car park and could not get to his car.

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“It starts at the end of January with you asking him ‘can I see yours?’ He sent a picture to you and you sent a picture to him of your penises.

“Then he sends a picture of his exposed bottom while squatting.

“At one point you say ‘I will massage your body all the way down.’

“You are not just a teacher, you are a head master. There have been so many people who have said so many things about you and it is quite clear to me that you have contributed to the world of education in so many wonderful ways.

“That makes it all the more awful that this boy at the time was showing a deterioration in his own performance and attendance.”

McGowan, of Dickonsfield in Edinburgh, had taught in schools across London, Oxford and in Scotland, before joining the Essex school.

“This was a gross abuse of trust,” said Judge Peters. “You allowed yourself to succumb to this temptation.

“You were the headmaster of this boy and someone who he should have been able to look up to.”

Judge Peters imposed a reporting restriction on the case that prohibits the naming of the school at which McGowan taught.